Transfer bonuses
Every live bonus for moving bank points to airlines and hotels, with a verdict on each.
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A transfer bonus adds extra miles when bank points move to an airline or hotel. Each one below has a verdict, worked out by comparing what the points are worth after the transfer with what they were worth before. The bonuses are as reported: confirm each one on the bank’s own transfer page before moving points, because transfers can’t be undone.
This month at a glance
Use it
Worth more after the transfer than before.
Citi → Avianca LifeMiles
1,000 points → 1,250 miles · Ends Oct 24
+25%
- Rove
Rove → Flying Blue
Ends Oct 31
+40%
Only with an award in hand
Close to even. Transfer only for a seat already found.
Amex → Flying Blue
1,000 points → 1,250 miles · Ends Oct 31
+25%
Capital One → British Airways
1,000 miles → 1,200 Avios · Ends Oct 31
+20%
Citi → Japan Airlines
1,000 points → 1,300 miles · Ends Oct 24
+30%
Citi → Qatar Airways
15% to 35% by transfer size · Ends Oct 31
up to+35%
- Rove
Rove → Japan Airlines
Ends Oct 31
+50%
- Rove
Rove → Qatar Airways
Ends Oct 31
up to+35%
- Rove
Rove → JetBlue
Ends Nov 14
+20%
Skip
Worth clearly less after the transfer, however big the bonus looks.
Chase → Marriott
1,000 points → 1,700 Marriott points · Ends Oct 15
+70%
Amex → Aeromexico
Ends Oct 30
+20%
The exception: luxury hotels
Chase → Marriott can still pay off for experienced points collectors with a specific top-end stay in mind, where a high nightly rate stretches each hotel point further. Divide the night’s cash price by its points price: the transfer breaks even at about 1.25¢ a point for Marriott. Below that, or for everyday hotels, skip.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Earned with Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve
+70%
to Marriott Bonvoy
Ends Oct 15
Skip
Even with 70% extra, Marriott points are worth less than the Chase points given up. The exception is a specific luxury stay where Marriott points reach about 1.25¢ each.
1,000 points → 1,700 Marriott points · about $13 of travel, vs $21 before
Amex Membership Rewards
Earned with Gold, Platinum
+25%
to Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Ends Oct 31
Only with an award in hand
Close to full value. Worth it for a Flying Blue award already found, such as a Promo Rewards fare to Europe.
1,000 points → 1,250 Flying Blue miles · about $18 of travel, vs $20 before
+20%
to Aeromexico Rewards
Ends Oct 30
Skip
A niche program with fuel surcharges on many awards. Skip unless a specific award is already in view.
Capital One Miles
Earned with Venture X, Venture
+20%
to British Airways Avios
Ends Oct 31
Only with an award in hand
Avios go furthest on short flights with American, Alaska and other Oneworld partners. Transfer once the seat is found.
1,000 points → 1,200 Avios · about $17 of travel, vs $19 before
Citi ThankYou Points
Earned with Strata Premier, Strata Elite
+25%
to Avianca LifeMiles
Ends Oct 24
Use it
Worth more than the Citi points given up. LifeMiles book Star Alliance business class without fuel surcharges.
1,000 points → 1,250 LifeMiles · about $20 of travel, vs $19 before
+30%
to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
Ends Oct 24
Only with an award in hand
A strong program for flights to Japan and across Oneworld. No published valuation yet, so transfer for a specific award.
1,000 points → 1,300 JAL miles
up to +35%
to Qatar Airways Avios
Ends Oct 31
Only with an award in hand
At the top tier, about even with Citi points. Worth it for a Qsuites or partner award already found.
35% needs 100,000+ base Avios in one transfer: 1,000 points → 1,350 Avios · about $19 of travel, vs $19 before
Rove Miles
Earned through Rove's shopping portal and offers, not a card
New members get 500 bonus miles through Oct 31. Join Rove through our referral link → Points Atelier earns a referral bonus when you join through our link.
+40%
to Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Ends Oct 31
Use it
With 40% extra, Flying Blue is one of the better homes for Rove Miles this month, especially for Promo Rewards fares to Europe.
+50%
to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
Ends Oct 31
Only with an award in hand
The largest bonus of the month, to a strong program for flights to Japan and across Oneworld. Transfer for a specific award.
up to +35%
to Qatar Airways Avios
Ends Oct 31
Only with an award in hand
Worth it for a Qsuites or partner award already found.
+20%
to JetBlue TrueBlue
Ends Nov 14
Only with an award in hand
JetBlue has just joined Rove as a 1:1 partner, and this is its launch bonus. TrueBlue points are worth roughly the same on any JetBlue fare, so transfer when there is a JetBlue flight to book.
How the verdicts work
Point values are TPG’s valuations.
Use it: the miles are worth at least as much as the points given up.
Only with an award in hand: close to even, so transfer only for a seat already found.
Skip: the points are worth clearly less after the transfer.
Hotel bonuses: usually a Skip, because hotel points are worth less than the bank points given up. The exception is an experienced points collector with a specific luxury stay in mind. Divide the night’s cash price by its points price; if that beats the bank points’ value divided by the hotel points received, the transfer comes out ahead.
Rove Miles have no published valuation, so their verdicts are a judgment on the program, not a calculation. Transfers cannot be reversed.